Barry's City belief

Gareth Barry says Liverpool can keep their history... he has his eyes fixed firmly on the future. And that future hits a crossroads this week as City gear up for an FA Cup replay at Stoke on Wednesday night followed by a lunchtime showdown with leaders Chelsea on Saturday.

Gareth Barry says Liverpool can keep their history... he has his eyes fixed firmly on the future.

And that future hits a crossroads this week as City gear up for an FA Cup replay at Stoke on Wednesday night followed by a lunchtime showdown with leaders Chelsea on Saturday.

City midfielder Barry, who is 29 today, snubbed the Merseysiders in order to join the Blue revolution last summer in a £12m deal.

And he was puzzled by some of the comments coming out of Merseyside last week, with both Javier Mascherano and Dirk Kuyt dismissing the Blues as a club with no history and hinting that the players who had joined them had done so solely for the money.

Barry accepted the fact that City's money cannot do anything about water which has passed under the bridge but he argued that he was looking ahead, rather than backwards, when he made his decision.

"They are talking about history, I am talking about the future," said Barry. "That is completely what my decision was based on, the future of myself and this football club. I believe this club is going in the right direction and I want to be a part of it.

"What they said is true, you can't buy history. But my decision was based on myself and the future, for my career and this club.

"I saw Manchester City reaching those heights when I was here, rather than going the opposite way. That was the basis behind my decision."

Barry belief

And Barry believes that, over the two games against Liverpool this season, and the season in general, he has been vindicated in his belief.

The Blues had the edge in both games - they should have won at Anfield but were denied by a late Yossi Benayoun equaliser, and showed more adventure and enterprise in Sunday's goalless draw.

And as the season moves into its final straight, City remain a point ahead of the Scousers with a game in hand - and that game, ironically, is against their city rivals Everton, being tipped by some to make the four-way chase for fourth place into a five-way effort.

"We have proved all season against the top teams that we can compete with them," said Barry, referring to home wins over Chelsea and Arsenal in the league, and a Carling Cup victory over United.

"We are not too far away. I am here for a few years. If it doesn't happen this year I am confident it will happen while I am here but there is a big chance it can happen this year."

Liverpool appeared happy to go away from Eastlands with a point but Barry felt the result favoured City, even though they were disappointed, as the home team, not to win it.

"It was a better result for us than them," he said. "There was a bit of pressure on them to win, given we have the extra point and the game in hand. I am sure both managers are reasonably happy but slightly frustrated at the same time. But future games are going to be the big ones and this is in the past.

"There was a lot at stake. If either team had got three points, they would have gone away with real momentum. We are slightly disappointed because we were the home team."